Bad Left Hook - War: HBO and Top Rank pair up against Golden Boy and ShowtimeGlobal Boxing News and Commentaryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47131/backingthepack-fave.png2013-03-18T18:25:32-04:00http://www.badlefthook.com/rss/stream/38840892013-03-18T18:25:32-04:002013-03-18T18:25:32-04:00Arum: Pacquiao staying at HBO
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<figcaption>Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Adviser Michael Koncz says that Manny Pacquiao could consider fighting on any network, but promoter Bob Arum says the Filipino superstar will only be fighting on HBO.</p> <p>Manny Pacquiao has been pretty quiet since his December knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, but today's TV brouhaha has brought adviser Michael Koncz out of the woodwork, as <a href="http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/177825-advisor-pacquiao-may-go-to-highest-bidder" target="_blank">Koncz tells The RING that Manny would be open to fighting on HBO or Showtime</a>:</p>
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<p>"Top Rank is our promoter and we respect that. However, the way Manny's contract is written with our promoter, MP Promotions is co-promoter and has equal say in venues, broadcast networks and various other issues. My obligation and my duty is to do what is in the best interest of Manny Pacquiao. In that regard, what can HBO, Showtime, Televisa or Azteca be willing to do for the benefit of Manny Pacquiao, one of the all-time greatest boxers. These discussions are ongoing."</p>
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<p>Arum was very clear saying that Manny will remain with HBO:</p>
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<p>"Our contract with Manny Pacquiao is clear. We have a contract until the end of 2014, and it provides clearly that his decisions are ours and ours alone. Manny Pacquiao will fight on HBO and HBO pay-per-view from now until as long as our contract is in effect."</p>
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<p>Pacquiao, 34, fought on Showtime once, when he and Arum skipped town on HBO to prove a point and take Manny to SHO PPV for an unwanted fight against Shane Mosley. The event was a dud, and Pacquiao and Arum went back to HBO for their next bout, after former HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg was axed.</p>
<p>In short, Manny Pacquiao is a Top Rank fighter, Top Rank fighters will fight on HBO only, and Manny Pacquiao will fight on HBO, and Michael Koncz probably doesn't really have much say in that.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2013/3/18/4120854/bob-arum-manny-pacquiao-will-remain-at-hbo-despite-koncz-commentsScott Christ2013-03-18T18:13:25-04:002013-03-18T18:13:25-04:00Oscar: Arum sailing HBO through Dead Sea
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<figcaption>Patrick McDermott</figcaption>
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<p>Oscar De La Hoya says he's excited to bring all of Golden Boy's fights to the Showtime and CBS platforms.</p> <p>Golden Boy Promotions representatives have been pretty quick to react to HBO's announcement that they will no longer buy fights from the company. Richard Schaefer said the move didn't surprise him, while Oscar De La Hoya took to Twitter to announce his preparedness for the power struggle that will rule U.S. boxing more than it ever has before:</p>
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<p>Game on!! I am so pumped to bring all the great fights to (Showtime) and CBS. Good luck With your captain sailing you through the Dead Sea</p>
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<p>The captain, of course, is Bob Arum, the "dinosaur" that Schaefer and De La Hoya are so quick to bash and then blame while saying they never say anything bad about him. It's all the same old story, same old song and dance.</p>
<p>Is this exciting anyone? Even just as a storyline for all future boxing happenings in the States? Or are you sane, and still wondering why a bunch of wealthy, grown men will constantly talk about business and then avoid all their best business opportunities?</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2013/3/18/4120822/oscar-de-la-hoya-arum-is-captain-sailing-hbo-through-dead-seaScott Christ2013-03-18T18:02:01-04:002013-03-18T18:02:01-04:00Schaefer not surprised by HBO decision
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<figcaption>Dean Mouhtaropoulos</figcaption>
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<p>Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer says he wasn't surprised by the decision made by HBO to stop working with Golden Boy Promotions.</p> <p>Some were surprised by today's announcement from HBO Sports that they would no longer be buying fights from Golden Boy Promotions, but GBP CEO Richard Schaefer wasn't among them. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.boxingscene.com/golden-boys-ceo-on-hbos-decision-end-relationship--63490">From BoxingScene.com</a>:</p>
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<p>"I am not surprised. If you look at HBO Sports president Ken Hershman, he did not have any conversations with me since last November or December. So clearly it's the aftermath of the two biggest names in the sport, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo, leaving HBO for Showtime. HBO is upset at Al Haymon, HBO is upset with me and I guess this is their way of getting back at us. I think it is an ill-advised strategy because I feel the only ones who are getting hurt here are the HBO subscribers, which are used to seeing the best fighters fight on HBO and obviously this is no longer going to be the case."</p>
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<p>As usual with Schaefer, there is a mix of truth and promoter spin in here. Canelo is not the second-biggest star in the sport, and realistically, Schaefer's bosom buddies at Showtime cut Top Rank off in this exact same manner last year, which led to the network being almost exclusively Golden Boy-controlled, save for the odd ShoBox or the like. No Top Rank fights have aired on Showtime since Golden Boy and Haymon have started filtering their fighters over.</p>
<p>So what Schaefer is saying is that what's good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander. HBO did what Showtime did not do, they made it public and made it concrete. Top Rank was just quietly frozen out at Showtime, save for Bob Arum occasionally taking a shot at Stephen Espinoza, who would say that Top Rank offered what they felt were bad fights, then air Tarver-Kayode as a main event or whatever, so it is, as usual, a big circle jerk of nobody saying anything that's going to amount to any progress, as the sport continues to move backwards into more petty beefs and grudges. The bottom line remains that Golden Boy and Top Rank refuse to make money with each other, and now they've dragged the networks fully into it. It was inevitable.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2013/3/18/4120760/richard-schaefer-not-surprised-by-hbo-decision-to-stop-relations-withScott Christ2013-03-18T15:16:01-04:002013-03-18T15:16:01-04:00Could Broner leave GBP and Haymon to stay at HBO?
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Rising star fighter Adrien Broner is one of the few fighters associated with Golden Boy and Al Haymon who had been fighting on HBO for the last year. Could we see 'The Problem' switch sides soon?</p> <p>Even before today's big announcement that <a href="http://www.badlefthook.com/2013/3/18/4119348/hbo-no-longer-working-golden-boy-promotions-network-war-heats-up-showtime-boxing/in/3884089" target="_blank">HBO Sports will no longer be in business with Golden Boy Promotions</a>, the signs were quite clear that Golden Boy was aligning almost exclusively with Showtime Sports and their new boss, former GBP lawyer Stephen Espinoza.</p>
<p>One of the few fighters under the Golden Boy and Al Haymon banners to remain on HBO was Adrien Broner, the rising Cincinnati star, still just 23 years of age and considered one of the rising stars, in and out of the ring, in the boxing world. Broner has done good TV ratings for HBO and picks up buzz with each passing fight, and with a lot of his corny but seemingly effective interviews.</p>
<p>Broner may have been really at the heart of the matter. With his idol Floyd Mayweather leaving HBO for Showtime and CBS Sports, it was expected that Broner would be positioned as the new face of HBO boxing, if not immediately, then very soon. That would have meant that HBO needed to lock Broner up in a long-term deal, and with little leverage in any potential negotiations with Haymon and Golden Boy on that front, that could be near the heart of the matter here: How far was HBO willing to bend over to keep Broner in their TV stable?</p>
<p>If that was a deciding factor, then the answer is not far enough. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/boxing--with-hbo-no-longer-doing-business-with-golden-boy--stars-continuning-migration-to-showtime-165423186.html" target="_blank">Kevin Iole reports</a> that Broner may have a decision of his own to make soon, too: His contracts with GBP and Haymon expire in April, and 50 Cent has expressed interest.</p>
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<p>Broner's contract with Golden Boy and adviser Al Haymon reportedly expires in April. Rap star turned boxing promoter Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has reportedly made an offer to Broner to join his company, SMS Promotions, when his Golden Boy deal is done.</p>
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<p>There's no question that Haymon and Golden Boy are better at promoting boxing than Mr. Jackson has proven to be so far. 50 has gotten Yuriorkis Gamboa a fight that was essentially promoted by Top Rank, led Billy Dib into a featherweight title loss, and has Andre Dirrell lined up for a Friday Night Fights main event. Right now, he's still finding his footing, if that's ever going to happen.</p>
<p>Broner, of course, is an actual relevant star fighter right now with a growing fan base, and he would make 50 Cent's promotional team matter a bit more. But what can 50 do for Broner? Dirrell left Haymon last year and look where that's gotten him. Broner would probably be working mostly with Top Rank fighters, or against Gamboa, and 50 doesn't have the juice to protect him the way he has been so far. It would be a risk -- if 50 promotes Broner, Top Rank has no real reason to offer him easy fights. They can try to have one of their guys topple him and steal his thunder. They'd want him in with someone like Brandon Rios, not someone like Gavin Rees.</p>
<p>I'm certainly not saying there wouldn't be great fights for Broner if he jumped ship, if he wants them. And maybe he'd even consider signing directly with Top Rank, but I don't see that happening, just on gut feeling.</p>
<p>Where does Broner fit best? What does he want to do? We'll find out soon enough.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2013/3/18/4119644/adrien-broner-heart-hbo-golden-boy-split-could-broner-switch-promoters-50-cent-boxingScott Christ2013-03-18T12:56:28-04:002013-03-18T12:56:28-04:00HBO no longer working with Golden Boy
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<figcaption>Josh Hedges</figcaption>
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<p>In a move that has long been in the works but not official, HBO Sports announced this morning that they will no longer be doing business with Golden Boy Promotions, putting the wars between HBO and Showtime and Top Rank and Golden Boy at a new level.</p> <p>HBO, the network that helped build a fledgling Golden Boy Promotions when it got started and was expected by most pundits to fail, has <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/KevinI/status/313682789620916225">announced this morning that they will no longer do any business with the promotional giant</a>, throwing their lot in with Top Rank and other promoters like Lou DiBella, Goossen Tutor, and Gary Shaw, with Golden Boy now entirely featured on Showtime.</p>
<p>The news is shocking in that it's a big, big deal for the American boxing landscape, but also not a major surprise. At this point, HBO was only featuring Bernard Hopkins, Adrien Broner, Keith Thurman, and bubble-burst Seth Mitchell out of the Golden Boy/Al Haymon camp anyway, having <a target="_blank" href="http://www.badlefthook.com/2013/2/19/4005252/floyd-mayweather-shakes-up-boxing-signs-six-fight-deal-showtime">recently lost Floyd Mayweather to a long-term deal with Showtime</a>.</p>
<p>In some respects, this is a rebuilding move by HBO. They will feature guys like Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Sergio Martinez, who are nearing the ends of their careers, but this also makes room for younger fighters like Brandon Rios, Nonito Donaire, Andre Ward, and others to make themselves the new cornerstones of HBO boxing.</p>
<p>In others, it's a sign of HBO digging in their heels and choosing their weapons in what has become a serious war between the networks and the rival promoters. Golden Boy has been going this way for a while; when their sweetheart deal with HBO ended, and HBO was no longer catering to their every lousy whim, they started gradually moving fights over to Showtime and new boss Stephen Espinoza, a former GBP lawyer. For years, Golden Boy fighters rarely did their work on Showtime. Now, they will exclusively be there.</p>
<p>I'm not saying that Golden Boy can't survive without full backing from a network, I'm only saying that's how they've done business over the years. In today's boxing world, it makes sense to do business that way. It's smart. The sport today is run in large part by TV money.</p>
<p>Apart from the Big Two, this opens doors for the smaller promoters at HBO. They'll have more dates open to get some fights on major TV.</p>
<p>There are so many layers to what this means for the business right now that it's hard to get them all in here and get the post up soon enough. Let's talk shop in the comments. This is somethin' else, alright.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2013/3/18/4119348/hbo-no-longer-working-golden-boy-promotions-network-war-heats-up-showtime-boxingScott Christ